Very frustrated with Cattleya walkeriana

This is a discussion on Very frustrated with Cattleya walkeriana within the Cattleyas, Vandas, Dendrobiums IN BLOOM forums, part of the Orchid Photography category; I have two C. walkeriana. They grow very well and form buds 3 times a ...

Very frustrated with Cattleya walkeriana

I have two C. walkeriana. They grow very well and form buds 3 times a year. But they almost never bloom. The buds always rot and fail to produce a flower. After 2 years and 6 different sets of buds, I finally got one flower on one of my walkerianas. This time it had 4 buds and only one bloomed. I don't know if it's too hot down here, or if the frequent rains cause a problem. In any case I think I may give it away to a friend of mine who wants to try his hand at it.

It's a beautiful bloom...can you protect it from the rain at all? One of my catt alliance hybrids was doing the same thing. I've kept water off the buds on the new spike and so far I haven't lost any.Posted via Mobile Device

Definitely too much rain. I have also observed this, if there is water hitting the bud forming growth, you can say bye bye to the buds. Another option for you would be to mount a small division, they like it that way.

I won't give advice in this for instance as more experience with Cattleyas is limited, but I did want to say that the actual plant looks quite healthy Jeff and at ieast you got a beginning with one nice bloom. AL

I have two C. walkeriana. They grow very well and form buds 3 times a year. But they almost never bloom. The buds always rot and fail to produce a flower. After 2 years and 6 different sets of buds, I finally got one flower on one of my walkerianas. This time it had 4 buds and only one bloomed. I don't know if it's too hot down here, or if the frequent rains cause a problem. In any case I think I may give it away to a friend of mine who wants to try his hand at it.

Jeff,
C. walkeriana shouldn't form buds 3 times a year. It shows that the plant doesn't get the right conditions.
In nature they bloom in fall during a dry season of 4 month and more.
Further they grow during the dry season in almost full sun light.

For you to get them to bloom you have to give them from Sept on as much light as possible and as less water as possible. After blooming they still need an other 2 to 3 month of a resting period under the same conditions (less water and more light).

If you repeat the same procedure in spring you may get them to bloom a second time. But normal is one time only.

Thanks for the excellent info. Horst. I will surely try it out for my walkeriana.

Originally Posted by Horst

Jeff,
C. walkeriana shouldn't form buds 3 times a year. It shows that the plant doesn't get the right conditions.
In nature they bloom in fall during a dry season of 4 month and more.
Further they grow during the dry season in almost full sun light.

For you to get them to bloom you have to give them from Sept on as much light as possible and as less water as possible. After blooming they still need an other 2 to 3 month of a resting period under the same conditions (less water and more light).

If you repeat the same procedure in spring you may get them to bloom a second time. But normal is one time only.

Jeff,
C. walkeriana shouldn't form buds 3 times a year. It shows that the plant doesn't get the right conditions.
In nature they bloom in fall during a dry season of 4 month and more.
Further they grow during the dry season in almost full sun light.

For you to get them to bloom you have to give them from Sept on as much light as possible and as less water as possible. After blooming they still need an other 2 to 3 month of a resting period under the same conditions (less water and more light).

If you repeat the same procedure in spring you may get them to bloom a second time. But normal is one time only.

The advice that both you and Amey have given me makes a lot of sense. The secondary pseudobulb type structure that carries the buds, forms a cup where water easily accumulates around the buds and rots them. A plant like this could only be successful in a very dry area. I really hadn't thought much about that until you two bought it up. Thanks for all the good information.

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